MCD Health Trade Licence (HTL) in Delhi — Official FY 2025-28 Fees, Instant HTL & Renewal
Quick answer: Every eating house, lodging house, bakery, chemist, kirana, gym, banquet or amusement trade in Delhi needs a Health Trade Licence from MCD (or NDMC / Cantonment Board) under the DMC Act, applied for on the unified HTL portal. MCD's Office Order of 28 March 2025 fixed the FY 2025-28 fees — for example a restaurant up to 20 seats pays ₹10,000 one-time registration plus ₹11,500 a year — with a 15% step every three financial years. Since 2025 no Delhi Police NOC is needed, notified low-risk trades get an instant HTL, and from July 2026 licensing runs under the Public Health Department's deregulated regime. We file, track the zonal DHO, and calendar the renewal.
Last verified 4 October 2026 — rules on this page checked against the current notifications. We update it the day a rule changes.
Official MCD HTL fees — FY 2025-28 (Office Order PA/MHO/MCD/2025/D-193, 28 March 2025)
| Trade | One-time registration | Annual licence fee |
|---|---|---|
| Eating house up to 20 seats | ₹10,000 | ₹11,500 |
| Eating house 21–50 seats | ₹15,000 | ₹23,000 |
| Eating house above 50 seats | ₹20,000 | ₹28,750 |
| Take-away / others | ₹15,000 | ₹6,900 |
| Banquet hall up to 250 seats | ₹10,000 | ₹17,250 |
| Guest house / lodging with dining | ₹10,000 | ₹11,500 |
| Lodging / boarding up to 20 beds | ₹10,000 | ₹23,000 |
| Lodging / boarding above 20 beds | ₹15,000 | ₹34,500 |
| 3-star hotel | ₹25,000 | ₹1,15,000 |
| Bakery (small-scale manufacturing) | ₹10,000 | ₹11,500 |
| Chemist shop | ₹10,000 | ₹5,750 |
| Kiryana and dry fruits | ₹10,000 | ₹5,750 |
| Health club / gymnasium | ₹15,000 | ₹23,000 |
| Amusement | ₹15,000 | ₹11,500 |
Fees rose 15% from 1 April 2025 and step up 15% every three financial years. Source: MCD HTL fee-structure PDF on the unified portal (etl.mcdonline.nic.in).
What changed in 2025-26
- No Delhi Police NOC / licence — the LG withdrew police licensing of hotels, guest houses, eating houses, discotheques, pools, game parlours, amusement parks and auditoriums on 19 June 2025; MCD dropped the police-NOC condition from HTL. Pages selling a "Delhi Police eating house licence" are selling something that no longer exists — see eating house licence Delhi 2026
- Instant HTL for notified low-risk trades (circular 11 June 2025); 4th–6th year validity option on renewal (8 May 2025); amendment facility live since 11 March 2025
- Gym / spa / fitness policy (29 Dec 2025); licensing under Public Health after deregulation (2 July 2026); revised fresh-HTL document checklist (21 Sep 2026)
Documents (per the 21 September 2026 checklist)
- Applicant ID and photo; entity proof
- Ownership proof or registered rent agreement with owner's NOC
- Site plan / layout with seating or bed count
- Fire NOC where Rule 27 thresholds apply; DPCC consent where applicable
- FSSAI licence for food trades; water test report where asked
- Property-tax paid proof; structural stability certificate for larger premises
HTL vs general trade licence vs factory licence
HTL (Public Health Dept) covers food, lodging, health and entertainment trades. The General Trade / Storage Licence has its own MCD fee chart (₹39,675 or ₹99 per sq m up to ₹66,125 or ₹166 per sq m by trade and colony category in the last published chart) and the Factory Licence is separate again — we confirm which apply before you pay anything.
What we do
- Category and zone mapping, documents per the current checklist, filing on the unified portal
- Follow-up with the zonal DHO; instant-HTL route where eligible; amendments on change of seats, name or address
- Renewal calendar incl. the multi-year validity option; FSSAI, fire NOC and DPCC in the same file
We state only figures read on the issuing authority's own notification or portal; anything else is confirmed at filing and never estimated.
Client: A 38-seat café opening in Shahpur Jat.
Situation: Owner had been quoted for a 'police eating house licence' and told to wait for it before applying to MCD.
Approach: Filed HTL in the 21–50 seat band (₹15,000 + ₹23,000) with FSSAI and the owner's NOC; no police step exists since June 2025.
Outcome: Licence issued; opening date held.
Client identity and certain details have been changed or withheld to protect confidentiality. Outcomes depend on individual facts and are not a guarantee of results.
Talk to us before you file anything
Frequently asked questions
What is the MCD health trade licence fee for a restaurant?
Per MCD's FY 2025-28 order: ₹10,000 registration + ₹11,500 a year up to 20 seats; ₹15,000 + ₹23,000 for 21–50 seats; ₹20,000 + ₹28,750 above 50 seats.
Is a Delhi Police NOC needed for a restaurant or guest house licence?
No. Police licensing of eating and lodging houses was withdrawn on 19 June 2025 and MCD removed the police-NOC condition; the HTL from MCD/NDMC/Cantonment Board is the licence.
How long is an HTL valid?
It is an annual licence; a May 2025 order lets you take validity for the 4th, 5th and 6th year on renewal.
What is an instant HTL?
For notified low-risk trades MCD generates the HTL instantly through the web portal under its 11 June 2025 instructions.
Which trades need an HTL?
Eating houses, take-aways, banquets, guest houses and lodging, hotels, bakeries, chemists, kiryana and dry fruits, gyms and health clubs, amusement — the full list is in the fee order.
Do kirana shops need an HTL in Delhi?
Yes — ₹10,000 registration plus ₹5,750 a year under the kiryana and dry fruits category.
What is the difference between HTL and general trade licence?
HTL is the Public Health Department's licence for food, lodging, health and entertainment trades; the General Trade/Storage licence covers storage and general trades with its own fee chart.
Can an HTL be amended for a change of seats or name?
Yes — MCD's amendment facility has been live since 11 March 2025.